Amal Clooney Calls Out Trump Administration at the UN | NowThis

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney called out the Trump administration for undermining efforts to help women raped during war, warning that it's their 'chance to stand on the right side of history.’

In the latest current events news on the Trump administration, Amal Clooney, human rights lawyer and wife of George Clooney, recently spoke at the United Nations in front of the UN Security Council about some of the most dire global issues: sexual violence, sex slavery, and other related war crimes. In the Amal Clooney speech, she directly called out the President Trump administration for impeding the UN's efforts to help women hurt by the Islamic State and other destructive regimes. The Donald Trump White House has been persistent over reproductive rights, but this Amal Clooney UN speech, Clooney showed she wasn't afraid.

Can Iran Close Hormuz Strait? | Inside Story

The Strait of Hormuz is the only sea route in and out of the Gulf. Twenty percent of the world's oil is carried through it by tankers.

Now, the US decision to impose further economic sanctions on Iran has prompted threats from Tehran to close this strategic waterway. This week, Washington will end all waivers granted to eight countries, including China and India, that import Iranian oil.

The Trump administration says it's part of its 'maximum pressure' campaign to stop Iran from destabilising the region. But what are the consequences of shutting the Strait of Hormus, not just for Iran, but the region and global oil markets?

Presenter: Kamahl Santamaria | Guests: Mohammad Eslami, political researcher and columnist; Manouchehr Takin, independent oil and energy consultant; Simon Mabon, senior lecturer in international studies at Lancaster University

'Whimsical, Uninformed': French Ambassador's Parting Verdict on Trump

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: Gérard Araud compares regime to court of Louis XIV and warns UK over post-Brexit trade

The outgoing French ambassador to the US has compared the Trump administration to the court of King Louis XIV, filled with courtiers trying to interpret the caprices of a “whimsical, unpredictable, uninformed” leader.

Gérard Araud, who retires on Friday after a 37-year career that included some of the top jobs in French diplomacy, said Donald Trump’s unpredictability and his single-minded transactional interpretation of US interests was leaving the administration isolated on the world stage.

“When they say ‘America first’, it’s America alone,” Araud said in an interview with the Guardian. “Basically, this president and this administration don’t have allies, don’t have friends. It’s really [about] bilateral relationships on the basis of the balance of power and the defence of narrow American interest.”

He cautioned the UK against expecting any special treatment from Washington in post-Brexit trade talks, predicting that the administration would force London to accept US imports on US terms, such as looser standards for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). » | Julian Borger in Washington | Friday, April 19, 2019

Guaidó Returns to Venezuela as US Issues Warning to Maduro

THE GUARDIAN: Washington says Maduro faces ‘strong and significant response’ if Guaidó is detained or threatened after tour of South America

Washington has warned Nicolás Maduro he faces a “strong and significant response” if his rival, Juan Guaidó, is detained or threatened as he tries to reenter Venezuela on Monday before a day of fresh protests.

Guaidó sneaked out of Venezuela on the eve of a failed bid to force humanitarian aid into the economically ravaged country on 23 February and subsequently set off on a five-nation tour of South America.

The 35-year-old visited Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay despite a travel ban introduced after his decision to challenge Maduro by declaring himself Venezuela’s rightful interim president.

Most western governments now recognise Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate interim president but, beyond widespread popular support, he enjoys little concrete power in Venezuela. » | Tom Phillips, Latin America correspondent | Monday, March 4, 2019

Trump Admin’s Secretive Talks to Sell Saudi Arabia Nuclear Technology Spark New Fear of Arms Race

House Democrats are accusing the Trump administration of moving toward transferring highly sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia in potential violation of US law. Critics say the deal could endanger national security while enriching close allies of President Trump. Saudi Arabia is considering building as many as 16 nuclear power plants by 2030, but many critics fear the Kingdom could use the technology to develop nuclear weapons and trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. We speak with Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna of California and Isaac Arnsdorf, a reporter with ProPublica. Arnsdorf first wrote about the intense and secretive lobbying effort to give nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia in 2017. His reporting was cited in the House report.

George Galloway on Venezuela (subtitulos en Español)

Trump's Venezuela Fiasco

Trump will regret listening to the neocons on Venezuela.

Can the US Force Maduro to Step Down? l Inside Story

Venezuela’s economy has been in crisis for years. Hyperinflation is skyrocketing and millions of people have left the country. And the president hasn’t been able to fix it.

Now the US is hitting Nicolas Maduro even harder where it hurts, in a bid to get him out of office. It’s imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company blocking seven billion dollars in assets and is recognising opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president.

Washington’s called on the military, which is so far standing by Maduro, to accept a peaceful transfer of power… and warned otherwise there could be consequences. How far will Washington go to change the government in Caracas?

Presenter: Richelle Carey | Guests: Jairo A Lugo-Ocando, Director of Executive Education and Graduate Studies at Northwestern University in Qatar; Charles Shapiro, Former US Ambassador to Venezuela; Diego Moya-Ocampos, principal analyst for Country Risk at IHS Markit in the Americas team.

Trump Administration Downgrades EU's Status in US, without Informing Brussels

THE GUARDIAN: Downgrade of diplomatic role seen as a snub reflecting a general antipathy to the EU in the Trump administration

The Trump administration has downgraded the diplomatic status of the EU mission in Washington, without informing the mission or Brussels, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The downgrade from nation state to international organisation status reverses an Obama administration decision in 2016 to grant the EU an enhanced diplomatic role in Washington, and is being seen in Brussels as a snub reflecting a general antipathy to the EU in the Trump administration. The president has supported Brexit and has described the EU as a “foe”.

The change, first reported by the German news agency, Deutsche Welle, potentially means that the EU mission would have less clout and access to US officials. » | Julian Borger in Washington | Tuesday, January 8, 2019

How the US Should Respond to Jamal Khashoggi’s Disappearance

As details of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance emerge, some business leaders are protesting the Saudi government by pulling out of an upcoming summit. Meanwhile, lawmakers are urging President Trump to take decisive action. Foreign affairs correspondent Nick Schifrin talks to Robert Jordan, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, for his perspective on the incident and the response.

Trump ‘Doesn’t Understand the Basics,’ Says 'Fear' Author Bob Woodward

Bob Woodward says key people in the White House say they spend a third of their time preventing bad things from happening. In his new book, the veteran editor and reporter delivers a stunning and disturbing look inside the Trump presidency, exposing a chaotic White House, lead by a man who has said he believes the key to power is "Fear." Woodward joins Judy Woodruff to discuss his reporting.

New Poll: 47% Of America Says Donald Trump Should Be Removed From Office | The 11th Hour | MSNBC

With Bob Woodward still talking about the stunning details of his new book depicting a White House in crisis, a new poll finds nearly half the nation say Trump should be impeached & removed. Shannon Pettypiece & Sam Stein join to react.

Cooper to Woodward: This Part of Book Was Terrifying

CNN's Anderson Cooper talks to veteran journalist Bob Woodward about his new book, "Fear."

Anderson Cooper Slams Trump's 'Tone-deaf' Remarks

CNN's Anderson Cooper discusses President Donald Trump's remarks about the administration's "successful" response in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Bernstein: Trump Presidency Teetering with an Unstable President

Carl Bernstein discusses Bob Woodward's book "Fear" that describes chaos inside the White House and the reporting behind it.

Trump Administration Struggles To Deny Op-Ed

Who wrote the op-ed? Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian, hosts of The Young Turks, break it down.

CNN Wolf Blitzer, September 6, 2018 – President Trump Breaking News Today

Trump Responds to 'Treason' from Within

In Washington a frenetic guessing game is underway to unearth the identity of the author of a New York Times opinion essay who claims to be part of a 'resistance' inside the White House.

Lawrence’s Guess: Who’s The Trump Official Behind The Anonymous Op-Ed? | The Last Word | MSNBC

Lawrence O'Donnell considers who among the senior Trump officials could have written the anonymous NYT op-ed. Jennifer Rubin, Ron Klain and Jason Johnson share their guesses as well.

Sanders Discredits Woodward Book on Trump

In an interview on ABC, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the new book on President Trump written by journalist Bob Woodward does not depict what is going on inside the White House.